The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-08
A GIGANTIC MINING ENTER
 PRISE.
A River Turned Out of Bed.


 achievements of modern engineering is the construction of the Big Bend Tunnel on the Feather river, situated in Butte county. Cali fornia. Feather river Is formed by the North, Middle and South Forks, which rise in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in Plumas county, run southwestward and unite in Butte county, to form the main Feather.
 The river, including the forks, is 2JO miles long, and enters Sacramento river at Vernon, Tn Sutter county, about twenty miles above the city of Sacramento.
 It is well known, among gold miners. that the richest and most productive gold mines of California have been the beds of rivers, and the Feather" stands pre- eminent as to rich ness wherever it has been possible to work it. In fact, old miners have known it for years under the name of "The Golden Feather"
 Prof. Horace c. Hurchard, late Director of the United States Mint, in speaking of the gold-producing river beds of California, says "They are the natural sluices of thousands of square miles of auriferous ground, the wash from which has been distributed on the beds bars and benches where, by natural process of concentration, the gold was redeposited in such manner that it was easily accessible to the early miners" The bars, which at low water are dry, are exposed to the operation of the miners, and from many places in the bed of the river-where 1t was possible to turn the river out of it's channel by means of dams and canals, or fumes-the miner soon found the ways of abstracting the precious metal from ehe sand and gravel in which it rested. The El Bend of Feather river, however, whose gravel deposits have been estimated in value from $lO0,00O,OOO to Sl50, 0,OOO has hitherto baiied the skill of man to rob it of it's treas ure. This vast amount of wealth has been guarded and preserved for ages by the mini Mum constant How of one hundred thou sand mlners' inches of water rushing through narrow canon of from l,500 to 1000 feet deep, which rendered it impossible to wing dam or Hume. Yet. while nature has thus seemingly placed impregnable barriers against mans en- Croachments, she provided, at one point at least, a way whereby these obstacles could be overcome through the intervention of modern engineering skill
 There is little stream running through Dark Canon, which empties into the West Branch of the Feather and from there into the main Feather, Dark Canon is several feet lower than the bed of the main Feather, at the point where Big Bend begins. A tunnel was commenced in Dark Canon, and a bore F \ Is feet drilled through spur of Big Bend noun tam distance of 12,O07 feet, or ncdriy t,Co aud one third mttes h length, out to the mountain side of Feather river, at the upper end of the Bend. Just below where the upper end of the tunnel taps the rlver dam con structed which is to force the water through the tunnel into Dark Canon, out of which it will flow into the West Branch. and then into the main Feather again. This will leave about fourteen miles of the river bed exposed to sight during the seasonof low water, which is from seven to nine months in the year.
 This stupendous undertaking required the services of one hundred men, working nigh, and day, for about five years, and has just recently been completed. At the head of the tunnel six gates of iron and steel, lH by 8 feet, will let the water in or keep it out, In times of high water the gates will be closed, and the river will run along it's old bed, to be turned out of it's course and through the tunnel at low water
 The past yield from those parts of the Feather accessible to mining operations, is sufficient evidence that the most sanguine anticipations of the projectors of this grand enterprise will be fully realized. The famous old Cape Claim, below Big Bend, yielded StSs0,000 in forty two working days, and from 3,3OO lineal feet of half-worked river bed. In fact, the river-channel, both above and below the Bend, has proven itself immensely rich.
 DwaAt tAnvf At fhn pnr rKVr., al .l Mining Company, and the largest stockholder therein, Is Dr. R. V. Pierce, who Is, perhaps, of all others, most entitled to credit for the successful termination of this great under taking Being fully satisfied with the feasi- bility of the plan from its inception, he has for the prosecution of this enormously ex- pensve work, and his confidence and liberal. ity will soon meet its reward.
 The Doctor has been, and now is, connected with very many other important matters. In the fall of 1877 he was elected to seat in the New York State Senate. and in 1873 he was placed Tn nomination for Congress, and was elected by a decisive majority.
 He Is President of the Buifalo Loan, Trust and Safe Deposit Company, one of the fore most banking institutions in the city of Buff dent of the Worlds 6ispensary Medical As; inst:tnte.S This institation is I situated on Main and Washington streets, Buffalo, \. T., ths Hr Ros streets sa The de home to those desiring private treatment of the most skilled class, especially to those suf. fering from chronic and surgical diseases. It is not a hospital, but pleasant, remedial home, furnished with every comfort, and the most approved sanitary, medical and surgical appliances, which study, experience, inven- tion and the most liberal expenditure of money can produce. 9here are eighteen skilled pny sicians and surgeons constantly at the Hotel, and corps of efficient and trained nurses. The Doctor is also the inventor of several well known medicines, which are com. pounded at the Worlds Dispensary. The eff hcacy. of these medicines is undoubtedly mcrt of the Invalids Hotel Very many who were using these remedies of Dr. Pierces found them so beneficial that they began to send applications for personal treatment, and these appeals becoming so numerous, the Doctor concluded to erect his Invalids' Hotel The Big Bend Tunnel Company Is fortunate in having so progressive man as Dr. Pierce as their President.
 The money expended in the construction of the tunnel does not represent all the capital involved. More than . hundred claimants to mining grounds on the bar, banks and river bed had to be bought out in acquiring title to this vast extent of rich mining grOunds Boarding houses have been constructed along the river, roads and tracks have been built; substantial bridge erected across the West Branch of the river, and what was un. broken wilderness, around the vicinity of the tunnel, when tho company commenced oper- ations, Is now thriving village with good dwelling houses. general store, hotel and school house. A p0st-ofiice has also been established here, and . telephone line built to Orovilie, sixteen miles distant.